Essay All The Light We Cannot See Essay PDF

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This Essay is about the book all the light we cannot see...

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Sorosh Benvidi Ms. McDougall ENG4U June 12, 2019

Literature Circles Essay Topic: Show how one or more literary devices contribute to a theme in the novel. All The Light We cannot see: The book addresses a broad sampling of different types of vision, as well as how each character lacked vision in at least one version of it. Marie, a blind girl, lacked a literal vision, but that did not stop her from pursuing her beliefs and dreams. She had a moral vision, meaning an ability to see and understand her moral code and act on it. Contrarily Werner has perfect vision (he wouldn’t be admitted to the school otherwise) but he lacks the vision of internal clarity like Marie and is unable to overcome his conflict between his sense of duty and his conscious and desire to pursue his choice and free will. An overarching theme throughout the entire book, woven into almost every aspect of the story is a vision. Doerr presented a vision in the context of different characters, in different settings, and in different forms, exploring each given example through the disillusionment or clarity of the character.

Werner, for example, struggles with moral vision, and although it is conveyed he means well, for the majority of the book he believes Germany has a noble cause. “This is your parade uniform, this is your field uniform, this is your gym uniform. Suspenders crossed in the back, parallel in the front. Sleeves rolled to the elbow. Each boy is to carry a knife in a scabbard on the right side of the belt. Raise your right arm when you wish to be called upon. Always align in rows of ten. No books, no cigarettes, no food, no personal possessions, nothing in your locker but uniforms, boots, knife, polish. No talking after lights-out. Letters home will be posted on Wednesdays. You will strip away your weakness, your cowardice, your hesitation. You will become like a waterfall, a volley of bullets—you will all surge in the same direction at the same pace toward the same cause. You will forgo comforts; you will live by duty alone. You will eat country and breathe nation.” (137) This speech given to the boys when they first arrive at military school uses parallelism as repetitive similar ideas are listed in a repetitive manner through the types of lines being said. Though it is important to notice each one follows a stronger version of the previous. The speech begins with uniforms and the correct way to wear them but ends with a demand directed at the boys to dedicate their existence to their cause and “eat country and breathe nation”. This is the type of German propaganda Werner is seen to be sucked into and believes in, leading to him having a lack of vision morally. However later in the book, he is disillusioned a bit through Jutta when she learns of all the atrocities committed by the Germans through radio broadcasting; Werner disregards this and distances himself from Jutta nonetheless. Though eventually when he saves Marie-Laure despite his duties and what the Germans expect of him.

Marie-Laure, on the other hand, has a good moral vision as we see her blossom into a resistance group activist yet civilly interacts with Werner when they meet in her uncle’s house. She has a good “scientific” vision as well since she had been educated through her dad and spending time with Dr. Geffard. However, we see her lash out with frustration, condemning her father and assigning him to blame: “He left me nothing.” She is surprised to hear how angry she is. “Nothing! Just a dumb model of this town and a broken promise. Just Madame, who is dead. Just my great-uncle, who is frightened of an ant.” Outside the gate, the German falls quiet. Considering her reply, perhaps. Something in her exasperation convincing him. “Now,” she calls, “you keep your word and go away.” (403). Ironically it can be said that she is “blind” towards the true nature of the outcome she is describing regarding the actions of her father and her current relations and people around her. For example, she compares her great uncle to a fly, implying that he is a useless and invaluable pest, even though in the grand scheme of things her great uncle is a very important person as he was what prevented Werner from following his father’s footsteps in the mines (through listening to the broadcasts he was able to become engaged and knowledgeable in science). Though this works towards a disillusionment for her as well because by the end of the book she realizes their worth and respects each of them once she moves on. This theme of vision is even present in the less important characters: “All of Europe, and he aims to find one pebble tucked inside its folds.” (143). Through the use of the metaphor, comparing the sea of flames to an insignificant pebble, Doerr hints towards the stupidity and “blindness” of people obsessed with this diamond for in a book so intertwined with moral conflicts and philosophical concepts and components, the sea of flames is nothing but a pebble with monetary value. Yet some are willing to explore every nook and cranny of Europe to find it

in the midst of all this chaos. The sea of flames throughout the book does, however, hold some importance in the mind of the reader at least because of the driving force it provides for the plot to unravel, but even for the reader it is discarded at the end as it is tucked away in hiding by Marie-Laure, demolishing any little power it had on the characters, plot, and story. To conclude, it can be said that these constant psychological battles and disillusions are presented as a necessity for the characters to grow. Although there are hardships, the difficulties people experience challenges their psychological processes and pushes them to explore what they were unable to see before.

Bibliography: Doerr, Anthony. “All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr.” Goodreads, Goodreads, 6 May 2014, www.goodreads.com/book/show/18143977-all-the-light-we-cannot-see...